Bullriding: The "We ain't afraid of anything" show coming to Du Quoin Nov. 6 & 7

Once known as "The Home of the Hambletonian", the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds is now aiming at a new name with every bit as much action. Something like "Home of Championship Bull Riding". Bulls simply replace high-bred horses and young and reckless 20-year-olds with "We ain't afraid of anything" attitudes are in the limelight instead of time-tested drivers with years and years of experience.

As an example, explosive action returns to Du Quoin Nov. 6th and 7th when the 20th annual National Federation of Professional Bullriders National Finals is scheduled for the SI Center on the fairgrounds. More than two dozen of the toughest, finest bull riders of the NFPB will be in town aiming at major prize money as well as entertaining several thousand fans in the stands.

Two of the headline contestants are Skylar Sims, a 21-year-old one-time Missouri all-state football star, ad 22-year-old Mason Lowe, also of Missouri, after competing this weekend in the sport's top bull-riding event being held in Las Vegas.

Turn tSims and Lowe have similar backgrounds. Both started riding sheep when just 3-year-old, moved up to calves a few years later at county fairs before taking on young bulls and eventually the full-grown, 2,000-pound-plus big guys with unusual bad attitudes.

"It's hard to explain," Lowe said. "We all know it's dangerous. We all have had several broken bones. We all understand that there's probably a better way to make a living, but we all love what we're doing. Besides that, I've never been to Vegas before and I've heard a lot about the lights and sights out there."

Although Sims failed to qualify for the Vegas meet, he'll be watching closely as many of his friendly rivals, including Lowe, will be going for the big bucks and national recognition.

"We're all good friends," Sims said. "We're all in it with the same goals in mind . . . travel together, conquer the beast, make a little money, although during the summer months it frequently requires competing four or five times a week and, of course, staying healthy."

"Bull riding is not something you really practice," Lowe continued. "In addition to playing high school football, I 've played golf, basketball and baseball and like all those things. Now that I'm older, however, I've switched to motorcycles and snow-boarding in addition to riding bulls. You've just got to keep your body strong and healthy."

And as far as the Du Quoin State Fair ever having a new slogan, that's the aim the NPBB's main man, Clint Jackson.

"I've seen it happen before in St. Joseph, Mo.," Jackson said. "We caused the citizens there to get excited for more than a week every year when we were in town. Cowboys like to have a good time. We spend money and at the same time are good citizens. The townspeople knew us. We got to know them. Unfortunately their facility got to be a problem and we had to look for a new home three years ago."

And, that's where the Southern Illinois Center at the south edge of the Du Quoin State Fairgrounds came into play. Officials are hoping to increase attendnce over a year ago at the two 7 p.m. sessions Nov. 6 and 7.